Day One: Part One
I apologize in advance for the lack of photos until the airport, it kinda got really hectic because of our snow.
The Limo (standard large sedan small one) arrived on time at around 8.15am.
One problem.......He couldnt get up our drive! He must have been ten minutes with wheels spinning trying to get up, both forwards and in reverse.
Obviously there was only one thing for it, if the Limo couldnt get to us then we would have to go to the Limo. Bearing in mind there was about 6 or 7 inches of snow on the ground and it was freezing in minus degrees - If I recall correctly it was aroung -5f, so it was really cold to go tromping through the snow.
So.......You can imagine how stupid we all looked tramping up and down our +150ft drive in deep snow with suitcases, a wheelchair, Oxygen machine, and a Bic
The limo driver did help with the schlepping, he was funny, kept on playing hell up with the limo company for only buying rear wheel drive cars and then expecting them to drive in 6 foot deep snow
Anyways, we set off and had a pleasant non eventful trip to the airport just over an 80 miles away. We had never been to this airport before, it was so tiny and cute
We checked in, very fast and hassle free. The oxygen concentrator papers were looked at and then given back. They told us to make sure we gave them to the flight crew at the gate before boarding. They did not charge for the baggage which was really nice of them.
Security was just a one gate thing and there were only 2 people in front of us waiting. They didnt even have a special thing for the wheelchair to go through, it was very casual and very pleasant. They made a fuss of Bic and made her laugh whilst they searched her chair for wild and dangerous animals.
We arrived at the Gate around 10am (airport was really empty) which was conveniently next to a small snack shop so we got some bottles of water and pop to take on the plane.Gave the paperwork to the person on the gate and was told she would have to show the Captain to get the all clear to travel with the concentrator and then would get our paperwork back to us. Got the baggage slip for the wheelchair. Fooled with Bic saying she was going in the hold with the chair
And we are off!!! Plane took off on time at just before 11am, had to stow the Oxygen concentrator until after take off. Pulled it out as soon as we leveled off and didnt wait for the seatbelt light to go off.
Sorry, but it seems that they keep the seatbelt light on until they have finished the snack/drinks rounds these days and we would have been waiting forever. The concentrator gave a couple of beeps on the way out there but we just turned the volume up to push out an higher concentration of oxygen to compensate.
Plane landed in Florida at touch early. We got off the plane expecting heat. Guess what, it was freezing. It was also windy, but it was sunny too so that took the edge off a little. Apparently we arrived in Florida just in time for some all time low temps, frost in the mornings and everything. It was OK because we were already dressed appropriately
We met our greeter, sorry, I cannot for the life of me remember her name, it was a year ago and I didnt take notes whilst we were there.
She made a big fuss of Bic and took us to get our van. Twas a nice van. we took our GPS with us so we got around fine whilst down there. Took photos of the few scratches and tiny dings that were already on the van so that we wouldnt get charged for anything once we took it back. Said goodbye to our greeter and set off for Give Kids The World!!!